I love NCL b/c I like freestyle dining (not being told when to eat dinner, not having to sit with strangers & optional formal night -- the dress code for everything is resort casual, which still means no jeans).

RCI bills itself as a line for active people -- they have rock walls to climb & ice skating rinks etc.

Personally, I shop by price. Just make sure you are comparing the same cabins -- look at size, amenities etc. Next look at the ports -- where is each ship going? Is one going someplace you have always wanted to go? When are the cruises leaving -- Saturday or Sunday? If you leave on Saturday, can you get there in time? but you'll have a day to settle in when you get home. If you leave on Sunday you can more easily go a day early but you come home & go right back to work without even enough time to unpack.

You are going to hear & read bad things about every cruise / line / destination / ship. Take it all with a grain of salt. People have different tastes.

I thought the food on RCI was OK. They do have traditional dining which means everybody on board eats at 1 of 2 times. It's kind of like catering a giant wedding every night. think about the logistics -- too much food to prep. It's all just not going to be amazing but it will be very good.

For the most part I agree with Divermaster but my (albeit limited) experience is that the age ranges between RCl & NCL are imperceptible but I'd put RCL just a wee bit younger given all of the activities.

Yes, Trish, I guess I would agree, especially on the RCL ships fully loaded with those innovations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by trish1c

For the most part I agree with Divermaster but my (albeit limited) experience is that the age ranges between RCl & NCL are imperceptible but I'd put RCL just a wee bit younger given all of the activities.